Thursday, October 26, 2006

Hi Neil, I just have a quick question that I hope won't be too much a waste of your time. I bought the Fragile Things audiobook on ebay, used, and the inside had two separate, plain black, cardboard sleeves holding the cds. No artwork inside. I couldn't find any pics online of anything besides the cover, so I was hoping you could tell me if that's how they're supposed to be? Seemed a little fishy and I don't want to find out later that I was ripped off. Thanks!

I went and checked. First I opened my FRAGILE THINGS audio box, and found the same thing. So no, you weren't ripped off. But you were right in being puzzled -- there should have been more inside. I called Harper Audio and we figured out that a combination of vicious deadlines and some checks and balances not checking and balancing meant that things that should have been in the box weren't.

The main thing that should have been in the Audio CD box for FRAGILE THINGS was the track listing and information. I'll get a webpage put up here at neilgaiman.com with it on, but in the meantime, for any of you with the FRAGILE THINGS audiobook, here's the PDF File with all the track listings and story info that should have been printed on the black CD holders in the box.

Also the CCDB info is now in, so if you're using iTunes or similar, it should now be able to put up a track listing for Fragile Things audio.

Has anyone adapted Murder Mysteries for the screen? And if not, where can I sign up to be the first?=)Owen C-B

I'm afraid David Goyer was the first, and he did a really excellent script for it, which I think he still wants to direct. Not sure if anything's happening with it these days, though. But as with any of the stories, you'd approach my agent, Jon Levin at CAA, and find out if the rights are available.

Neil --Tony Long of Wired news recently offered an editorial (http://www.tinyurl.com/yk8z89)in which he takes offense at the nomination of Gene Luen Yang for a National Book Award for "American Born Chinese", a graphic novel -- Long argues that no "comic book" (his words) should be nominated for an award intended for a "real novel". What is your opinion about graphic novels being nominated for (and poteintially winning) major literary prizes?

Shawn

I suppose if he builds a time machine he could do something about Maus's 1992 Pulitzer, or Sandman's 1991 World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story, or Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan winning the 2001 Guardian First Book Award, or even Watchmen's appearance on Time's Hundred Best Novels of the 20th Century list. Lacking a Time Machine, it seems a rather silly and antiquated argument, like hearing someone complain that women have the vote or that be-bop music and crooners are turning up in the pop charts.

I like the bit where he says that he hasn't read the comic in question, but he just knows what things like that are like. It's always best to be offended by things you haven't read. That way you keep your mind uncluttered by things that might change it.

Hey, Neil.

i tried this last week, but something was twonky with the FAQ line, I think.

Anyway, I was wondering if I could beg a plug for the ALA Sandman Poster from you. With Absolute Sandman out I'm thinking fans might want one or two. Or may want to use it as a gift to encourage their libraries to keep their graphic novel collections growing.

The Absolute volume is breathtaking by the way. I haven't gotten my copy yet, but I had a glimpse of the Booklist review copy and it made my fingers all tingly like pretty comics usually do.

And lastly I had meant to tell you: We tried our hands at a small press booth at Wizard World Chicago this past summer and had interesting results. Sales were okay, especially on the Alex Ross posters and Sandman (no surprise). Also, your Author Poster was a strong seller. The best reaction over all, though, was that everyone was so jazzed to see us there. Publishers came around to say how great it was to see ALA there and to ask how they could get into the library market, or better yet how to help their local libraries. Retailers came by to say hi and tell us about programs and relationships they had with their local libraries. And EVERYONE wanted to show us their library card.

It's really kind of funny because working at ALA, as with most non-profits, you know your job helps and it's a real weight off your soul. (Especially if you're like me and came to it from real estate.) But sometimes at ALA you forget how many people are really impacted by the work we do. Seeing everyone, kids and adults, so excited about their local libraries made me really proud of my job.

Anyway... thanks for the plug if you have time. Let me know if there are ever any posters you want or anything I can help out with.

I am shooting my senior thesis project, its a 1940's detective noir combined with heavy fantasy elements, and was hoping you could tell me the name of the company that created the masks for your film "Mirrormask".

I will try and find your agents contact info, but wanted to see if this would find you first.

With my upmost respect,Chandler Kauffman

A few of them were bought commercially in Venice, but the majority of them were designed and made by Dave McKean himself.

And finally,

Neil, please help save Bats!I have been sending this message around to help save bats from being killed for decorations. I imagine people assume they were killed humanely or gathered after death, but that is not the case. Please help me get the word out!

HEYAll you goths and other happy freaky people out there.I saw this petition online, and I think if we spread the word we can help out, as this product is probably aimed at our community.

A couple companies have been capturing and slaughtering healthy live Wild bats and selling them in glass cases on Ebay and places like that as decorations.

Go online and sign this petition to get them to stop, and spread the word. These are real live healthy bats, that are killed just for entertainment! If we are the target of this industry, we can stop it by petitioning, and refusing the product.Help me spread the word all!A.S. Rahne